§ 66. Mr. Manningham-Bullerasked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity of Danish cocksfoot grass seed imported in 1946 and its cost; the amount of such grass seed produced in Great Britain in 1946; whether, as a result of the quantity imported, there is now a surplus over the estimated 1947 requirements; and whether having regard to the effect on seed production in Great Britain, he proposes to permit the importation of a further 700 tons from Denmark
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI am advised that the total quantity of cocksfoot grass seed obtained by the Seeds Import Board from 283W Denmark in 1946 was 1,589 tons, the landed cost of which was approximately £250,000, This seed was required to meet the demand for sowing during the 1945–46 season. No figures are available of the production of Danish strains of cocksfoot seed in Great Britain, but I understand that the quantity of this class of seed carried in stock was substantially less than the quantity estimated to be needed for the 1946–47 sowing season. The Seeds Import Board have recently imported 730 tons of cocksfoot seed from Denmark to make up the deficiency, but have no intention at present of importing more.